Gamba Osaka weathered an early storm to kick off their AFC Champions League Two 2025/26 campaign with back-to-back wins on Thursday, beating Ratchaburi FC 2-0 away from home thanks to second half goals from Shuto Abe and Ryotaro Meshino.
The 2025 MEIJI YASUDA J1 LEAGUE side were put under plenty of pressure by their Thai hosts early on at Ratchaburi Stadium, with G-Osaka goalkeeper Masaaki Higashiguchi needing to make a trio of saves in the opening 25 minutes to keep his side in the game.
The veteran shot-stopper made his first intervention of the night in the seventh minute, getting his body behind Njiva Rakotoharimalala’s volley, and was then called into action again 16 minutes later, diving to his left to tip Scott Allardice’s effort from just outside the area past the post.
Higashiguchi then made another sensational stop from the resultant corner, somehow managing to deny Jeremy Corinus after the Ratchaburi defender’s powerful header from seven yards seemed destined for the back of the net.
G-Osaka’s first sight of goal didn’t arrive until the 35th minute, but after Deniz Hummet teed him up on the edge of the D Takashi Usami curled an attempt just wide of the target.
Ratchaburi started the second half on the front foot as well and threatened to open the scoring eight minutes after the restart, but after Negueba played an incisive ball in behind Denilson Junior dinked wide of the near post.
Abe then broke the deadlock for G-Osaka in sensational style in the 64th minute, controlling the ball after a cross was cleared to him just outside the area and unleashing an unstoppable strike beyond the despairing dive of Ratchaburi goalkeeper Kampol Pathomakkakul.
Usami almost made it 2-0 16 minutes later with a ferocious drive from 30 yards, but Pathomakkakul got a strong hand to the ball and tipped it over the bar.
Meshino then made absolutely sure of the three points for G-Osaka as the clock ticked down, converting another delightful goal in the fourth minute of stoppage time.
The 27-year-old received possession from fellow substitute Makoto Mitsuta with his back to goal just inside the penalty area, then snaked his way into a shooting position before clipping a low finish in at the near post that Pathomakkakul could do nothing about.
